A candidate for the North Carolina state legislature is facing serious questions regarding a commercial property that he owns in Sanford that reportedly houses an illegal video gambling operation.
Charles Taylor, a Republican serving on the Sanford City Council, is running for a seat in the North Carolina House of Representatives, in an attempt to represent District 51, where he hopes to follow in the footsteps of retiring state Rep. John Sauls.
According to an investigation by The Assembly, Taylor spent $60,000 to purchase a small commercial building at 2101 Tramway Road in December 2025.
The property had been previously occupied by a women’s clothing store called Carolina Girl Boutique. The venue has since been converted into a game room reportedly containing no less than 22 slot machines.
North Carolina generally prohibits commercial businesses from operating slot machines, with legal gambling venues limited to the state’s three tribal casinos.
Questions Over Property Disclosures
The building in question, however, has a few rather unusual features. For starters, it has a warning sign on the outside that reads, “THERE IS NOTHING HERE WORTH DYING FOR,” next to the image of a handgun.
Also, the rules posted on the locked entrance ask visitors to be at least 21 and prohibit them from entering with cellphones, cameras, alcohol, and illegal substances on them.
Taylor told The Assembly that he rents out the property, and that the building is not the only real estate investment that he has made over the years.
He also addressed the reason behind the building not being included in his 2025 economic interest statement.
“I have invested locally in real estate for many years and continue to do so. I bought some new properties last December and didn’t include them on my economic interest statement for 2025 since the closing happened on the final day of the year,” Taylor told the publication.
The property, as expected, has drawn even more attention because of questions about how authorities handle suspected illegal gambling businesses.
State officials told The Assembly that enforcement operations against gambling establishments are conducted regularly, but businesses holding alcohol licenses are usually prioritized when it comes to raids.
Since the rules displayed at Taylor’s property prohibit alcohol, the establishment may not fall into that priority category.
This is not the first time the candidate is facing scrutiny, as he received substantial financial support from pro-gambling interests through the American Conservative Fund during his primary campaign.
Potential Liability for Property Owners
The legislation in North Carolina also offers a clear mechanism for pursuing property owners when their premises are used for unlawful activities.
According to Chapter 19 of the state’s General Statutes, prosecutors are allowed to bring civil nuisance actions involving illegal gambling, drug activity, prostitution, and bootlegging.
The respective proceedings can result in court orders shutting down a business, asking tenants to leave, and slapping property owners with financial penalties.
Nonetheless, ownership of a property does not automatically make a landlord legally responsible for a tenant’s conduct. Potential liability depends on the circumstances, including the owner’s knowledge of the activity and response to it.